Adjustable computed tomography head fixator for neurological scans

Abstract

Systems and methods for securely positioning a patient's head during medical imaging are presented. A fixation device includes a headrest which may be provided with inflatable chambers to adjust the headrest to the patient's head, a neck section which may be adjustable, and a base designed to couple to a patient bed or gurney forming part of a medical imaging system. The fixation device allows adjustment of the patient's head to an orientation which may variously minimize scanning time, improve imaging results, and/or protect sensitive tissues from unnecessary irradiation.

We claim: 
     
       1. A head fixator for positioning a patient's head during imaging, comprising:
 a headrest dimensioned to cradle a patient's head; 
 a neckpiece coupled to the headrest by a first hinge at a first end of the neckpiece; 
 a track coupled to a bottom surface of the headrest; 
 an adjustable angle arm coupled to the track at a first end of the angle arm and coupled by a second hinge to the neckpiece at a second end of the angle arm, the first end of the angle arm configured to slide within the track, a position of the angle arm within the track determining an angle between the headrest and the neckpiece; 
 one or more fixator fasteners coupled to the first end of the angle arm and passing through one or more slots in the track, wherein:
 when the fixator fasteners do not securely couple the first end of the angle arm to the track, the angle arm is configured to slide freely within the track, allowing the angle between the headrest and the neckpiece to be adjusted to a desired angle, and 
 when the angle between the headrest and the neckpiece is the desired angle and the fixator fasteners securely couple the first end of the angle arm to the track, the angle arm is configured to maintain the desired angle between the headrest and the neckpiece; and 
 
 one or more intubation bars coupled to corresponding sides of the track, each intubation bar coupled to the corresponding side of the track at a first end of the intubation bar by at least a third hinge and dimensioned to be coupled to the corresponding side of that track at a second end of that intubation bar by a first pullpin dimensioned to couple to the track through a second end of that intubation bar,
 wherein when the fixator fasteners do not securely couple to the first end of the angle arm to the track and the first pullpin of each intubation bar is removed:
 that intubation bar is configured to pivot about its first end, and 
 the second end of that intubation is configured to rest on the patient bed beneath the track, maintaining a predefined angle between the headrest and the neckpiece, the predefined angle being desirable for intubating a patient; and 
 
 
 a base coupled to a second end of the neckpiece, the base dimensioned to form an insertion tab configured to fasten the head fixator to a patient bed. 
 
     
     
       2. The head fixator of  claim 1 , wherein the neckpiece comprises a first neckpiece section and a second neckpiece section; and
 wherein the first neckpiece section and the second neckpiece section are configured to slide relative to one another along a line extending between the base and the headrest, a position of the first neckpiece section relative to the second neckpiece section defining a length of the neckpiece. 
 
     
     
       3. The head fixator of  claim 2 :
 wherein the first neckpiece section is dimensioned with one or more slots and the second neckpiece is dimensioned to couple to one or more neck fasteners passing through the one or more slots; 
 wherein when the one or more neck fasteners do not securely fasten the first neckpiece section to the second neckpiece section, the length of the neckpiece is adjustable by translating the first neckpiece section relative to the second neckpiece section; and 
 wherein when the length of the neckpiece is a desired neck length and the one or more neck fasteners securely fasten the first neckpiece section to the second neckpiece section, the length of the neckpiece is fixed as the desired neck length. 
 
     
     
       4. The head fixator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more intubation cradles coupled to corresponding sides of the track, each intubation cradle coupled to the corresponding side of the track at a first end of the intubation bar by at least a third hinge and dimensioned to be coupled to the corresponding side of that track at a second end of that intubation bar by a second pullpin dimensioned to couple to the track through a second end of that intubation bar; 
 wherein each intubation cradle is provided with a recess in a face of that intubation cradle, the recess dimensioned to receive one of the fixator fasteners, the face provided along an edge of the intubation bar oriented perpendicular to a direction of translation of the angle arm within the track; and 
 wherein, when the fixator fasteners do not securely couple the first end of the angle arm to the track and the second pullpin of each intubation cradle is removed:
 that intubation cradle is configured to pivot about its first end, 
 the second end of that intubation cradle is configured to rotate such that the intubation cradle remains in a fixed position, presenting the recess of that intubation cradle to a fixator fastener adjacent to that intubation cradle, and 
 when the angle bar is allowed to translate within the rack and the one or more fixator fasteners are positioned forward of the one or more intubation cradles, the one or more intubation cradles are configured to maintain a predefined angle between the headrest and the neckpiece, the predefined angle being desirable for intubating a patient. 
 
 
     
     
       5. The head fixator of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more flexible chambers disposed within corresponding sidewalls of the headrest;
 wherein the flexible chambers are inflatable and deflatable to adjust an inner dimension of the headrest to the patient's head. 
 
     
     
       6. A system for positioning a patient during imaging, comprising:
 a headrest dimensioned to cradle a patient's head; 
 a neckpiece coupled to the headrest by a first hinge at a first end of the neckpiece; 
 a track coupled to a bottom surface of the headrest; 
 an adjustable angle arm coupled to the track at a first end of the angle arm and coupled by a second hinge to the neckpiece at a second end of the angle arm, the first end of the angle arm configured to slide within the track, a position of the angle arm within the track determining an angle between the headrest and the neckpiece; 
 one or more fixator fasteners coupled to the first end of the angle arm and passing through one or more slots in the track, wherein:
 when the fixator fasteners do not securely couple the first end of the angle arm to the track, the angle arm is configured to slide freely within the track, allowing the angle between the headrest and the neckpiece to be adjusted to a desired angle, and 
 when the angle between the headrest and the neckpiece is the desired angle and the fixator fasteners securely couple the first end of the angle arm to the track, the angle arm is configured to maintain the desired angle between the headrest and the neckpiece; 
 
 one or more intubation cradles coupled to corresponding sides of the track, each intubation cradle coupled to the corresponding side of the track at a first end of the intubation bar by at least a third hinge and dimensioned to be coupled to the corresponding side of that track at a second end of that intubation bar by a first pullpin dimensioned to couple to the track through a second end of that intubation bar, wherein each intubation cradle is provided with a recess in a face of that intubation cradle, the recess dimensioned to receive one of the fixator fasteners:
 when the fixator fasteners do not securely couple the first end of the angle arm to the track and the first pullpin of each intubation cradle is removed:
 that intubation cradle is configured to pivot about its first end so that the face provided along an edge of the intubation bar is oriented perpendicular to a direction of translation of the angle arm within the track, 
 the second end of that intubation cradle is configured to rotate such that that intubation cradle remains in a fixed position, presenting the recess of that intubation cradle to a fixator fastener adjacent to that intubation cradle, and 
 when the angle bar is allowed to translate within the rack and the one or more fixator fasteners are positioned forward of the one or more intubation cradles, the one or more intubation cradles are configured to maintain a predefined angle between the headrest and the neckpiece, the predefined angle being desirable for intubating a patient and 
 
 
 a base coupled to a second end of the neckpiece, the base dimensioned to form an insertion tab configured to fasten to a first end of a patient bed. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the neckpiece comprises a first neckpiece section and a second neckpiece section; and
 wherein the first neckpiece section and the second neckpiece section are configured to slide relative to one another along a line extending between the base and the headrest, a position of the first neckpiece section relative to the second neckpiece section defining a length of the neckpiece. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 :
 wherein the first neckpiece section is dimensioned with one or more slots and the second neckpiece is dimensioned to couple to one or more neck fasteners passing through the one or more slots; 
 wherein when the one or more neck fasteners do not securely fasten the first neckpiece section to the second neckpiece section, the length of the neckpiece is adjustable by translating the first neckpiece section relative to the second neckpiece section; and 
 wherein when the length of the neckpiece is a desired neck length and the one or more neck fasteners securely fasten the first neckpiece section to the second neckpiece section, the length of the neckpiece is fixed as the desired neck length. 
 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 one or more intubation bars coupled to corresponding sides of the track, each intubation bar coupled to the corresponding side of the track at a first end of the intubation bar by at least a third hinge and dimensioned to be coupled to the corresponding side of that track at a second end of that intubation bar by a second pullpin dimensioned to couple to the track through a second end of that intubation bar; and 
 wherein, when the fixator fasteners do not securely couple to the first end of the angle arm to the track and the second pullpin of each intubation bar is removed:
 that intubation bar is configured to pivot about its first end; and 
 the second end of that intubation is configured to rest on the patient bed beneath the track, maintaining a predefined angle between the headrest and the neckpiece, the predefined angle being desirable for intubating a patient. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The head fixator of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more flexible chambers disposed within corresponding sidewalls of the headrest;
 wherein the flexible chambers are inflatable and deflatable to adjust an inner dimension of the headrest to the patient's head.